The elev8.io Podcast

elev8.io

‘The elev8.io Podcast’ is a thought leadership platform dedicated to providing actionable insights, expert interviews, and growth strategies for Behavioral Health Centers. The podcast addresses the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving behavioral health industry. Our Topics: ✔ Solutions to common industry growth challenges ✔ Strategies for marketing, BD and admissions ✔ Leadership playbooks that cultivate sustainable growth ✔ Innovations in technology, AI & strategic partnerships ✔ VC/PE Trends for Behavioral Health Mergers & Acquisitions ✉️ podcast@elev8.io

  1. 16 | From Containment to Community: Rethinking Addiction Treatment with Bob Ferguson (Jaywalker Lodge)

    5d ago

    16 | From Containment to Community: Rethinking Addiction Treatment with Bob Ferguson (Jaywalker Lodge)

    Most addiction treatment programs are designed to stabilize patients. But what happens after they leave? In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Bob Ferguson, founder of Jaywalker Lodge, to unpack one of the biggest gaps in behavioral health today: 👉 The difference between getting sober and learning how to live in recovery. Drawing from more than 30 years in the industry, including building one of the most differentiated treatment models in behavioral health, Bob shares why treatment is “necessary but not sufficient,” and why long-term recovery requires something far bigger than a controlled environment. Together, Gary and Bob unpack: ● Why most treatment models prioritize containment over community ● How real-world integration improves long-term recovery outcomes ● The accidental discovery that shaped Jaywalker’s community-based model ● Why alumni became Jaywalker’s most important stakeholder ● The psychology behind sustainable sobriety and peer accountability ● How transparency and specificity create stronger behavioral health brands ● Why collaboration—not competition—is one of the industry’s greatest opportunities This is a masterclass on recovery, positioning, alumni engagement, culture, and building a behavioral health organization that creates both stronger outcomes and stronger long-term growth. If you’re a behavioral health executive, founder, operator, marketer, admissions leader, or clinician trying to rethink outcomes and differentiation in treatment — this episode is for you. ⏱️ Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 – Why treatment alone is not enough 04:00 – Bob’s personal recovery journey and founding Jaywalker Lodge 08:15 – The accidental shift from containment to community 13:00 – Why community integration changed patient outcomes 15:30 – Early mistakes and lessons learned building the model 21:00 – Alumni as the primary stakeholder 27:00 – How alumni transformed the culture at Jaywalker 31:00 – The marketing challenge of a 120-day program 34:30 – Why specificity creates stronger behavioral health brands 38:00 – “Contrary attraction” and behavioral health admissions 41:30 – The psychology of trust, honesty, and recovery 45:00 – What the industry must change moving forward 47:00 – Collaboration vs competition in behavioral health 50:00 – Final reflections and closing thoughts 🔗 Follow elev8.io on Social Media ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/ ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/ ● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io 👤  Guest Details ● Bob Ferguson, Former Founder, Jaywalker Lodge ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bfjaywalkerlodge/ ● Website: http://www.jaywalkerlodge.com 📊 Resources & Links ● Learn more about ⁠elev8.io⁠ ● Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator exclusively designed for Behavioral Health Organizations -> ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠  💡 Have a topic in mind?  Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes -> https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠

    51 min
  2. 15. Pre, During, After: A Smarter Framework for Conference ROI in Behavioral Health

    May 12

    15. Pre, During, After: A Smarter Framework for Conference ROI in Behavioral Health

    Conferences can either become expensive calendar events… or one of the highest-leverage growth opportunities inside your organization. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Doug Edwards, Senior Vice President at HMP Global, to break down what actually drives conference ROI. Drawing from nearly three decades of experience producing some of the industry’s largest events, Doug shares why conferences should be treated as strategic environments for relationship-building, market intelligence, hiring, partnerships, and long-term growth — not just networking opportunities. Together, Gary and Doug unpack: Why conference ROI rarely happens immediately The biggest mistakes teams make before arriving onsite How to decide who should attend conferences Why relationships outperform transactions over time How conferences help operators stay ahead of trends like AI  What strong post-conference execution actually looks like If you’re attending conferences this year and want to walk in with more clarity, better strategy, and stronger outcomes, this conversation is for you. ⏱️  Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 – Why conferences fail without preparation 05:15 – How industry conferences have evolved 11:00 – The hidden ROI most teams overlook 18:00 – Choosing the right people to attend 24:30 – Why relationships matter more than transactions 30:00 – AI, psychedelics, and emerging trends 37:40 – Evaluating vendors and technology onsite 43:00 – Post-conference follow-up strategies 49:20 – Final advice for behavioral health leaders 🔗  Follow elev8.io on Social Media LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ 👤  Guest Details Doug Edwards - Senior Vice President — HMP Global LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-edwards-086956b/ Website: http://www.hmpglobal.com 📊 Resources & Links Learn more about elev8.io:⁠ https://elev8.io⁠ Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator, exclusively designed for Behavioral Health Organizations 👉⁠ https://growthcalculator.elev8.io 💡 Have a topic in mind?Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes → https://elev8.io/podcast

    39 min
  3. 14 | The Foundations of Behavioral Health Marketing Attribution With CTM

    Apr 28

    14 | The Foundations of Behavioral Health Marketing Attribution With CTM

    In today’s #BehavioralHealth landscape, patient acquisition costs continue to rise—often reaching $3,000 to $10,000 per admission, yet many treatment centers still lack clear visibility into what’s actually driving their admissions. The result? Decisions are made on assumptions, not data. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Bryan McKinstry, Lead of Strategic Partnerships at CTM, to unpack the foundational systems required to bring clarity to marketing performance and admissions outcomes. Drawing from hands-on experience working with behavioral health organizations of all sizes, Bryan breaks down why traditional metrics like call volume and duration fall short, and how facilities can shift toward true attribution by connecting marketing, admissions, and operations into one unified system. Together, they explore the critical role of call tracking, the importance of speed-to-contact, and why the first interaction with a prospective patient is often the highest-leverage moment in the entire journey. This conversation is designed for behavioral health executives, marketing leaders, and admissions teams who want to move beyond vanity metrics and build a data-driven engine for sustainable census growth. Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 – Why most facilities lack visibility into what drives admissions 03:30 – The biggest blind spots in marketing attribution 05:00 – Why call duration is a misleading metric 08:00 – The disconnect between marketing and admissions teams 12:30 – What separates advanced call tracking systems from basic tools 16:00 – Speed-to-contact and capturing high-intent patient moments 20:00 – Why attribution should be treated as an operational system 23:00 – Common mistakes when implementing call tracking 27:30 – Multi-location vs single-location attribution challenges 30:00 – AI in admissions: enhancement vs replacement Follow elev8.io on Social Media ● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/ ● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/ ● YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io Guest Details ● Bryan McKinstry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-mckinstry-32377453/ ● Company: CallTrackingMetrics - CTM ● Website: http://calltrackingmetrics.com/ ● Email: bryan.mckinstry@calltrackingmetrics.com Resources & Links ● Learn more about ⁠elev8.io⁠ ● Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator exclusively ● designed for Behavioral Health Organizations -> ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠  Have a topic in mind?  Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes -> https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠

    33 min
  4. 13 | Getting Sober vs. Staying Sober: The Missing Link in Behavioral Health Treatment

    Apr 17

    13 | Getting Sober vs. Staying Sober: The Missing Link in Behavioral Health Treatment

    Getting someone into treatment is only the first step. What happens after they leave… is where recovery is actually decided. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Frank Galimidi, CEO of Sunview Wellness, to break down one of the biggest gaps in behavioral health today: the difference between getting sober and actually staying sober. With relapse rates still high within the first 90 days, this conversation challenges how the industry approaches treatment, extended care, and long-term recovery outcomes. Frank shares real-world insights from nearly two decades in addiction treatment, covering: Why extended care (PHP, IOP, outpatient) is critical for long-term success How current business models and reimbursement structures influence care decisions The role of readmissions, referrals, and reputation in behavioral health Why outcomes—not just admissions—will define the future of the industry If you’re a treatment center owner, operator, or leader in behavioral health, this episode will challenge how you think about recovery, growth, and patient outcomes. ⏱️  Key Topics / Timestamps [00:00] – Why recovery doesn’t end after treatment The gap between getting sober and staying sober. [03:00] – How behavioral health has changed in the last 5–7 years Access to care, payer scrutiny, and the shift toward scalable models. [05:00] – Why extended care is where real recovery happens From detox to real-world reintegration. [08:00] – The business model behind treatment centers Why detox and residential dominate the market. [10:00] – The uncomfortable truth about readmissions How relapse is often built into the system. [16:00] – Trust, trauma, and why time in treatment matters Why real clinical work can’t happen in 30 days. [18:00] – Insurance, reimbursement, and industry scrutiny How past practices shaped today’s payer landscape. [26:00] – Why PHP/IOP struggle as a business model Marketing challenges and lower reimbursement realities. [30:00] – Outcomes vs admissions: what actually drives growth Reputation, referrals, and long-term success. [36:00] – Alumni programs: support vs revenue strategy Where many facilities get it wrong. [40:00] – Advice for treatment center owners & investors What it really takes to succeed in behavioral health today 🔗  Follow elev8.io on Social Media LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ 👤  Guest Details Frank Galimidi CEO, Sunview Wellness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-galimidi-casac-cap-cradc-ncacii-icadc-sap-8669054/ Website: https://sunviewwellness.com/ 📊 Resources & Links Learn more about elev8.io: https://elev8.io Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator: 👉 https://growthcalculator.elev8.io 💡 Have a topic in mind? Suggest it and explore more episodes: 👉 https://elev8.io/podcast/

    40 min
  5. 12 | Automation, Attribution & AI: The Tech-Driven Path to Growth in Behavioral Health

    Mar 13

    12 | Automation, Attribution & AI: The Tech-Driven Path to Growth in Behavioral Health

    Automation, attribution, and artificial intelligence are quickly transforming how behavioral health organizations approach marketing, admissions, and patient acquisition. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth joins a panel discussion recorded live at the Recovery.com Marketing Summit alongside Steve Donai (Growth Sherpa) and Keegan Warrington (RxMedia). Together, they explore how treatment centers can leverage technology to create scalable growth systems. The conversation highlights the importance of implementing the right technology foundations—such as CRM systems, call tracking, and attribution dashboards—before investing in advanced automation or AI tools. The panel also discusses how automation can improve admissions workflows, why data attribution is critical for optimizing marketing spend, and where artificial intelligence is already creating value in behavioral health marketing. For treatment center leaders looking to modernize their growth strategy, this episode provides a practical roadmap for using automation, attribution, and AI to drive sustainable census growth. 🚀 Key Topics / Timestamps 03:00 – The Foundational Tech Stack Every Treatment Center Needs 07:00 – Attribution, Dashboards & Marketing KPIs 12:00 – Using Data to Improve Marketing Decisions 18:00 – Aligning Leadership, Marketing & Admissions Around Data 22:00 – Automation Strategies for Admissions Follow-Up 30:00 – Using Reviews & Reputation to Improve Conversion 35:00 – The Role of AI in Behavioral Health Marketing 38:00 – Why AI Should Support—not Replace—Human Admissions Team 👇  Follow elev8.io on Social Media LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ 🚀 Guest Details Keegan WarringtonFounder – RxMediahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/keeganwarrington/ Steve DonaiFounder / CEO – Growth Sherpahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-donai-ms/ 👇 Resources & Links Learn more about elev8.io https://elev8.io/solutions-overview/ Explore the Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator https://growthcalculator.elev8.io Explore other podcast episodes https://elev8.io/podcast Have a topic in mind?  Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes -> https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠

    47 min
  6. 11 | Reverse Content Marketing: 4 Steps To Growing Your Census

    Feb 27

    11 | Reverse Content Marketing: 4 Steps To Growing Your Census

    Most treatment centers are creating content in the wrong order — and it’s costing them admissions.In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Clint Mally, VP of Content at Recovery.com, to unpack Reverse Content Marketing — a 4-step framework that starts at the bottom of the funnel with admissions alignment, conversion tracking, and trust-building… and only then expands toward visibility and scale.Clint explains why your call flow, VOB form, thank-you page, and location pages are far more important than random blog posts or social media content — and how small conversion improvements can dramatically lower your Cost-Per-Admit.If you’re a Behavioral Health executive looking to stabilize census, improve lead quality, and grow predictably, this episode gives you practical steps you can implement immediately.🚀 Key Topics / Timestamps02:23 – Why Most Content Strategies Fail: The problem with starting at the top of the funnel.05:30 – Admissions First: The 3-Point Lead Scoring Framework: Payment eligibility, clinical fit, and demographic fit.12:00 – Fixing Your VOB & Thank You Page: Why simplicity, speed, and expectation-setting increase conversions.18:30 – The Trust Equation: Empathy + Authority: How to build credibility on your location pages.25:00 – Pathos, Ethos & Logos in Behavioral Health Marketing: Emotional proof, credentials, and data-driven persuasion.32:00 – The 7-Question Alumni Testimonial Framework: How to create powerful, authentic recovery stories.41:00 – When to Ask for Reviews vs. Testimonial Videos: Discharge vs. 1-year recovery strategy.48:00 – The 16-Point Location Page Checklist: What every high-converting page must include.55:00 – Market Expansion Strategy: How to evaluate demographic fit + search demand before opening a new facility.👇 Make sure to subscribe:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io🎧 Podcast Platforms:Spotify:⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/07DofmdcmrCimcnyOzS1nJ?si=368b453bcb044540Apple Podcast: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-elev8-io-podcast/id1831101794YouTube Podcast: ⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0vCBysUd2YD2tolPrXVbWH3Cm17Llc4K&si=gT_LH00MnLCOGMkK🚀 Guest DetailsClint Mally - VP of Content, Recovery.comEmail: clint@recovery.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintmally/Website: https://recovery.com🎁 Exclusive Offer for Listeners:Clint is offering FREE professional alumni testimonial filming and editing for podcast listeners (even if you are not currently advertising with Recovery.com). Simply email him and mention this episode.🚀 Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator exclusively designed for Behavioral Health Organizations: ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠Have a topic in mind? Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠

    51 min
  7. 10 | You Can’t Market Your Way Out of Poor Leadership: Lessons from the Front Lines of Recovery - Kennet Vick, Avalon Wellness Recoveryy

    Feb 12

    10 | You Can’t Market Your Way Out of Poor Leadership: Lessons from the Front Lines of Recovery - Kennet Vick, Avalon Wellness Recoveryy

    In today’s #BehavioralHealth landscape, many treatment centers respond to census pressure by increasing marketing spend—without addressing the leadership and operational foundations that actually drive outcomes, retention, and sustainable growth. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, Gary Garth sits down with Kenneth Vick, Executive Director at Avalon Wellness & Recovery and author of Recovery Leadership: Building Teams for Better Outcomes, to unpack a hard truth: leadership is often the real constraint to growth. Drawing from nearly two decades of frontline and executive experience, Ken explains how leadership quality directly impacts patient outcomes, staff burnout, length of stay, referrals, and ultimately census stability. Together, they explore why strong teams outperform strong tactics, how culture becomes a clinical variable, and what CEOs must own if they want to scale without breaking their organization—or their people. This conversation is designed for behavioral health CEOs, Executive Directors, founders, and growth leaders who want to align outcomes, culture, and business performance in an increasingly high-cost admissions environment. Key Topics / Timestamps 00:35 - Ken’s journey into recovery leadership and why he wrote Recovery Leadership 03:31 – Why leadership failures quietly undermine outcomes and census 08:46 – Burnout, staff turnover, and the hidden cost of poor leadership 14:21 – Trauma-informed leadership: treating teams with the same care as clients 20:11 – Leadership, length of stay, and patient engagement 27:31 – Why marketing and operations must be aligned 34:16 – Scaling teams without breaking culture 41:01 – Advice for founders growing from 20 to 60+ beds 47:31 – How outcomes drive referrals, reputation, and sustainable census Follow elev8.io on Social Media LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ Guest Details Kenneth Vick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-vick-04624a9a/ Learn more about Avalon Wellness & Recovery Book: Recovery Leadership (Available on Amazon) Resources & Links Learn more about ⁠elev8.io⁠ Explore our Patient Acquisition ROI & Census Growth Calculator exclusively designed for Behavioral Health Organizations -> ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠  Have a topic in mind?  Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes -> https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠

    31 min
  8. 9 | Culture Is the Strategy: How Leadership Standards Determine Who Scales and Who Breaks

    Jan 29

    9 | Culture Is the Strategy: How Leadership Standards Determine Who Scales and Who Breaks

    In behavioral health, many leaders try to solve census challenges by pushing harder on marketing. But as this episode makes clear, the real bottleneck is often upstream: leadership, hiring discipline, and culture. In this episode of The elev8.io Podcast, host Gary Garth sits down with Dr. Ken Huey, CEO of The Hope Group and host of The Voice of Hope Podcast, to break down why culture isn’t a “soft” concept—it’s the operating system that determines execution, retention, and scalable growth.  Ken shares the frameworks he’s used to build and scale mission-driven behavioral health programs, including how to identify “missionaries vs. mercenaries,” why past behavior is the best predictor of future performance, and how to measure culture using an employee Net Promoter Score.  If you’re a CEO, founder, or executive leader looking to stabilize census, build a durable team, and scale without breaking your standards—this conversation is for you. Key Topics / Timestamps 00:00 – Why culture in a Behavioral Health orfanization is infrastructure 02:00 – Ken’s journey + why he joined The Hope Group 04:30 – “Missionaries vs. mercenaries” and why it matters in Behavioral Health 06:30 – How to spot mercenaries (and why interviews aren’t enough) 08:00 – Topgrading + reference checks as a hiring system 10:30 – The best culture metric: Employee Net Promoter Score 13:00 – Balancing hiring urgency with protecting culture 16:00 – “Who first, then what” + solving constraints with the right “who” 19:00 – Aligning departments around mission, values, and a BHAG 22:00 – Where to find Ken + The Voice of Hope Podcast Follow elev8.io on Social Media LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/elev8io/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/elev8.io/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@elev8_io⁠ Guest Social Media Dr. Ken Huey (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-huey-72309031/ Learn more about The Hope Group: https://hopegrouphealth.com/ The Voice of Hope Podcast with Dr. Ken Huey Resources & Links Visit ⁠elev8.io⁠ Explore the ROI Calculator: ⁠https://growthcalculator.elev8.io⁠ Have a topic in mind? Suggest it and check out our other podcast episodes here: ⁠⁠ https://elev8.io/podcast/⁠⁠

    30 min
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About

‘The elev8.io Podcast’ is a thought leadership platform dedicated to providing actionable insights, expert interviews, and growth strategies for Behavioral Health Centers. The podcast addresses the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving behavioral health industry. Our Topics: ✔ Solutions to common industry growth challenges ✔ Strategies for marketing, BD and admissions ✔ Leadership playbooks that cultivate sustainable growth ✔ Innovations in technology, AI & strategic partnerships ✔ VC/PE Trends for Behavioral Health Mergers & Acquisitions ✉️ podcast@elev8.io

Information

  • Creator
    elev8.io
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © elev8.io
  • Show Website
    The elev8.io Podcast